FAIRFIELD, NJ - Brandon Cardella, 19, of West Caldwell has been charged by Fairfield Police with using a baseball bat to attack a 22-year-old male North Caldwell resident. Fairfield Police Chief Anthony Manna is asking anyone who may have witnessed the alleged attack by Cardella, who is believed to have been accompanied by other men armed with baseball bats, to please contact police.

According to Manna, as Thatcher McGhees was closing in the early hours of Saturday, Jan. 20, the victim, his brother and two friends were inside the pub while at the same time Cardella and some of his friends were also gathered at the bar.

At one point, the victim’s brother was outside smoking a cigarette and allegedly overheard Cardella talking to his friends about an incident that occurred at Thatchers a few weeks earlier in which Cardella was banned from the bar. It was assessed that Cardella blamed the victim for his being banned.

Reportedly, the victim began receiving calls from Cardella who was allegedly trying to get the victim to meet up and fight in the parking lot. The victim ignored this request.

At about 1:30am, the victim and the others in his partyexited the bar and began to walk to their carwhich was parked on Fairfield Avenuewhen he noticed a gray Chrysler 300circling the Thatcher’s parking lot," Manna expressed."This car then pulled up to the victimand Mr. Cardella and two other individuals got out of the vehicle,all allegedly holding baseball bats.The victim told police that the last thing he remembers was Cardella allegedly swinging the bat ​and striking him in the head.

After the attack, the victim was driven to St. Barnabas Hospital by his brother for treatment and it is alleged that the victim sustained a concussion.

On the following day Fairfield police were notified and detectives were able to obtain an arrest warrant for Cardella who was charged with:

Aggravated Assault

Possession of a weapon

Possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose

On Jan. 22, Cardella surrendered to Fairfield Police and was transported to the Essex County Jail.

I am encouraging these individuals to come forward and speak with our detectives," said the Chief, "as it will only be a matter of time before we identify them and potentially charge them.

Anyone with information regarding this incident are encouraged to contact the Fairfield Police Department’s Investigative Division:973-227-1400